What is the Difference Between HD DVD and Blu-Ray

If you are shopping for new movies on DVD and new DVD releases, you will notice a new type of video format available, the Blu-ray disc. You may find your self wondering, what is the difference between HD DVD and Blu-ray? Aside from the DVD, there is another type of disc that promises the same level of clarity and crisp imagery, and sometimes even more. The type of disc we are referring to is the Blu-ray disc. In today's high technology age where everything keeps on getting better, anything is bound to be replaced. Mobile phones keep on coming up with new units to outdo the last, laptop computers seem to be getting smaller, and all other forms of technology are changing for the better. Today, DVD's are the customary disc for storing data and the preferred format for publishing and data as well. The problem lies in this question - how long will the DVD keep its throne? The answer to that may yet be uncertain. However, what is certain is that it will not always be sufficient. In the battle of the publishing formats, we have seen "format deaths" in the form of Betamax and VHS. Both the Betamax and VHS data formats held a long reign as the publishing format standard and yet they to, were replaced eventually by the CD and DVD respectively. It seems that a familiar battle is going to take place not that a new contender is being groomed to be the new preferred format of choice - the Blu-ray disc. To now, the thing on people's mind is - what is the difference between HD DVD and Blu-ray?

Today, Blu-ray technology is widely available in Japan. During early 2006, the US followed suit and stores nationwide started selling Blu-ray. Since then, countries started to follow and Blu-ray discs started selling like pancakes. Going back to the question, what is the difference between HD DVD and Blu-ray?

In answering the question what is the difference between HD DVD and Blu-ray, we need to point out there difference. First, one major difference between HD DVD and Blu-ray is the company that backs up the technology. The main supporter of Blu-ray technology is Sony. On the other hand, the main supported of HD DVD technology is Toshiba.

Second, to answer the question what is the difference between HD DVD and Blu-ray, we need to talk about capacity. In this area, Blu-ray technology wins. A blu-ray disc can sustain more data capacity as compared a HD DVDs disc. And we are talking about a big difference - Blu-ray technology can sustain 25GB of data per layer while HD DVD can only support 15GB.

Third, to answer the question what is the difference between HD DVD and Blu-ray, we have the color of the laser use. Blu-ray technology uses blue while HD DVD uses red. The blue color used in Blu-ray technology has a relatively a smaller wavelength as compared to HD DVD's red laser, allowing blu-ray discs to store a greater amount of data.

Sources :

1. http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/19/blu-ray-vs-hd-dvd-state-of-the-s-union-s-division/

2.http://hometheater.about.com/od/dvdbasics/a/bluhddvdinfo.htm